Hot Cross Buns
This soft and delightful English Sweet Spice Bun would be a delight to share with family and friends around the table this Easter.
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 12 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
- 1 packet Active Dry Yeast
- 4 oz salted butter melted
- 1 cup warm milk
- 100 g sugar
- 500 g bread flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 tbsp candied citrus peel.
- 1 cup flour
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- 1
Bring a cup of water to boil add the raisins into the boiling water and allow boil for 2 minutes to hydrate them. Sieve with a colander and run under cold water to cool and set aside. Alternatively you can hydrate the raisins in the microwave bowl see note 1 below.
- 2
Put about 2 Tbsp warm water in a small cup, add a teaspoon of sugar from the 100g then add the yeast and set aside
- 3
Mix sugar, melted butter and eggs together and pour into the mixing bowl.
- 4
Add the proofed yeast into the mixture, pour in the flour, cooled raisins and citrus peel and begin to mix with the dough hook of the stand mixer.
- 5
Mix till everything comes together. When all have come together into a ball increase speed and mix for about 5 minutes that the kneading stage. The dough shouldn't be sticky. If it is, add a little flour.
- 6
Grease a bowl then transfer the bell of dough to the greased bowl.
- 7
Cover with cling film and a kitchen towel. Place in warm place for 1 hr until it doubles in size.
- 8
When the dough has risen and doubled in size, punch it down,
- 9
Then transfer to you work surface, if it's still sticky (which I doubt), dust it with a little flour and knead.
- 10
Cut into 12 equal parts I had use a scale to divide them equally. You can eyeball it if you want.
- 11
Form 12 balls and arrange them in a greased 9 by 13 pan 1 inch apart.
- 12
Cover again and allow to rise for 20 mins.
- 13
Mix the flour and water till smooth. It will have a thick yet fluid consistency.
- 14
Then transfer into a piping bag with a round top or use a ziplock bag and cut a little hole unit when you are ready to use the paste.
- 15
When the bread is baking, you can prepare the glaze it's just simple syrup.
- 16
Bring water to boil then add the sugar allow to boil for about 2 minutes then turn off heat
- 17
Preheat oven to 350 F
- 18
When the dough balls have risen cut the tip of the ziplock that has the flower paste.
- 19
Pipe a long line vertically and horizontally in the middle of the Buns.
- 20
Transfer to the oven and bake for 20 - 25 mins.
- 21
The buns would be hollow when you tap the button of the pan when it is ready. It may not be golden brown on top until the glaze is applied.
- 22
Bring it out of the oven and apply the glaze (simple syrup) with a brush.